A CHANGE OF ADDRESS

Text: John 14:1–6 Key Verse: “In my Father’s house are many mansions…” — John 14:2 Subject: A Change of Address

Behavioral Aim

That those who mourn will find comfort in knowing that, for the believer, death is not simply an ending—it is a change of address, from the troubles of this present world to the presence of God.

Introduction

There are few things in life as emotional as moving.

When somebody changes addresses, things begin to look different. Boxes are packed. Familiar rooms are emptied. Things that have been in the same place for years are suddenly moved.

And sometimes, when you walk back into the old place, it feels strange.

The building is still there.

The rooms are still there.

The furniture may even still be there.

But somebody who used to be there isn't there anymore.

And that is part of what makes death so difficult.

We know something has changed.

The chair may still be there, but the person who sat in it is gone.

The clothes may still be there, but the person who wore them is gone.

The telephone number may still be saved in our phone, but we can't call and hear that familiar voice like we used to.

And if we're truthful, that's painful.

Death leaves an empty place.

But I came with a word for somebody who is grieving today:

For the child of God, death does not mean they have ceased to exist.

They've just had...

A CHANGE OF ADDRESS.

The problem is, we're standing at the old address, looking for somebody who has moved.

And Jesus tells us in John 14 that there is another address.

He says:

“In my Father's house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you.”

In other words, Jesus says, “There is somewhere else to live after you leave here.”

1. THE OLD ADDRESS HAS TROUBLE

Jesus begins this chapter by saying:

“Let not your heart be troubled…”

Notice something.

Jesus never said there wouldn't be trouble.

He said don't let the trouble take over your heart.

Because this present address comes with trouble.

Job said:

“Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.”

At this address, there is sickness.

At this address, there is disappointment.

At this address, there are tears.

At this address, bodies get tired.

At this address, strength begins to fade.

At this address, people we love have to say goodbye.

Nobody gets to live at this address forever.

No matter how beautiful the house...

No matter how successful the career...

No matter how much money is in the bank...

No matter how many people know your name...

This address is temporary.

That's why the Bible reminds us that we are strangers and pilgrims passing through this world.

And maybe that's the first thing we need to remember today:

We were never supposed to stay here forever.

This world is not our permanent residence.

We're just passing through.

But thank God, when the believer moves from this address, Jesus already has another one waiting.

2. THE NEW ADDRESS HAS ALREADY BEEN PREPARED

Jesus says:

“In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

I love that word:

PLACE.

Jesus doesn't describe eternity as some vague idea.

He calls it a place.

He says:

“I go to prepare a place for you.”

That means the believer doesn't leave here and go nowhere.

Jesus says there is a place.

And not only is there a place...

The place has already been prepared.

We spend our lives preparing places down here.

We paint houses.

We decorate rooms.

We buy furniture.

We cut grass.

We repair roofs.

We try to make our earthly houses comfortable.

But Jesus said:

“I've been preparing another house.”

And what's beautiful about the Father's house is that the things that troubled us at the old address can't follow us to the new one.

No sickness forwarding address.

No pain forwarding address.

No grief forwarding address.

No hospital bed forwarding address.

No prescription bottle forwarding address.

No funeral home forwarding address.

No cemetery forwarding address.

Revelation says that God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.

Why?

Because...

THAT STUFF DOESN'T LIVE AT THE NEW ADDRESS!

The new address is in the Father's house.

And wherever the Father is...

There is peace.

There is joy.

There is rest.

There is life.

There is fullness of joy forevermore.

3. JESUS HAS ALREADY PROVIDED THE DIRECTIONS

Thomas asks Jesus:

“Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?”

And Jesus responds:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Thomas essentially asks:

“Jesus, what's the address, and how do we get there?”

And Jesus says:

“You don't need a map. You've got Me.”

Jesus doesn't say:

“I know a way.”

He says:

“I AM THE WAY.”

He doesn't say:

“I know some truth.”

He says:

“I AM THE TRUTH.”

He doesn't say:

“I can show you life.”

He says:

“I AM THE LIFE.”

That's the hope of the believer.

Our hope is not simply that we lived a good life.

Our hope is not simply that people remember our name.

Our hope is not simply that we did some good things while we were here.

Our hope is Jesus Christ.

Because Jesus is the One who makes the change of address possible.

He came down through forty and two generations.

He was born in Bethlehem.

Raised in Nazareth.

He healed the sick.

Opened blinded eyes.

Fed the hungry.

Raised the dead.

But one Friday...

They marched Him up Calvary's hill.

They nailed His hands.

They nailed His feet.

They lifted Him between heaven and earth.

He hung His head and died.

They took Him down and put Him in a borrowed tomb.

But early...

EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...

He got up with all power in His hands!

And because He got up, death doesn't get the final word over those who belong to Him.

Because He lives, we can face tomorrow.

Because He lives, the grave is not the end.

Because He lives, when a believer closes their eyes down here, there is another home beyond this life.

Conclusion

So yes, we're going to miss them.

We're going to cry.

We're going to remember.

There will be moments when we instinctively reach for the phone.

There will be holidays when that empty seat feels especially empty.

There will be days when memories bring smiles and other days when those same memories bring tears.

But when those moments come, remember:

They're not lost.

When you know where somebody is, they're not lost.

They've simply...

CHANGED ADDRESSES.

They've moved from labor to reward.

From weariness to rest.

From sorrow to joy.

From pain to peace.

From mortality to immortality.

From earth to eternity.

From our house...

TO THE FATHER'S HOUSE.

And one day, if we hold to God's unchanging hand, we too will have to pack up from this side.

And when that day comes, I don't need a moving truck.

I don't need cardboard boxes.

I don't need a GPS.

I just need to know Jesus.

Because Jesus said:

“I am the way.”

So family, don't let your hearts be overwhelmed with trouble.

We grieve, but we do not grieve without hope.

Because this is not the end of the story.

There has simply been...

A CHANGE OF ADDRESS.

And thank God—

the new address is the Father's house.

Amen.